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Class^'p 55 2. t 



THE ROUT OF THE 
PHILISTINES 



THE TWENTIETH GROVE PLAY 
OF THE BOHEMIAN CLUB 




1922 



THE ROUT OF THE i 
PHILISTINES 

J FOREST PLAY 

BY . ^, ,^^^'^ 

CHARLES G. NORRIS 

MUSIC BY 

NINO MARCELLI 

THE TWENTIETH GROVE PLAY OF THE 
BOHEMIAN CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO 

As performed by its members 

in the Bohemian Grove, Sonoma County, California 

on the twenty-ninth of July 

nineteen hundred and twenty-two 



SAN FRANCISCO 

BOHEMIAN CLUB 

1922 






COPYRIGHT 1922 

BY BOHEMIAN CLUB 

SAN FRANCISCO 



Printed by Isaac Upham Co., 
San Francisco, California 



©ClA6S6a69 

MAR i6 1923 






^ 



THE ROUT OF THE PHILISTINES 

A FOREST PLAY 



DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF 

GREAT AND GENTLE BOHEMIAN 

FRANK L. MATHIEU 



But here before you stands a god in truth ^ 

Or if no god, the symbol of a god; 

Te would do well to fall upon your knees 

And worship him ^ for he is inspiration^ 

And kindleth aspiration^ attributes 

Of gods alone. 



PERSONS OF THE PLAY 



AARON, High Priest of the Philistines 

MALCHALM, Priest 

ABIMELECH, King of the PhiHstines 
ACKISH, Prince, Son of Abimelech 
MOAB, Tutor to the Prince . . . 
DOR, Servant to the Prince . 
HAMUL, Captain of the Host . . 
[GAZA 

ASHKELON 
LORDS OF \ GATH 

ASHOD 

EKRON 

SAPH, Son of Rapha, King of the Anakims 
AMON, Script Writer 
SISERA, Musician 



Lords of the 
Philistines 



Slaves of the 
Philistines 



Richard M. Hotaling 
Joseph S. Thompson 
Morris W. Ankrum 
Richard A. Leonard 
George S. Magee 
Easton Kent 
William B. Hanley, Jr. 

Leo Cunningham 
Lester Seib 
E. Malcolm Cameron 
Frank E. Rodolph 
John R. Gwynn 

William S. Rainey 
Gordon Davis 
Frederick Thompson 
David R, Eisenbach 



BOAZ, Sculptor 

MESSENGER Jesse L. Peck 

SOLDIER Wm.C. Shiels 

APPARITION of King Rapha .... Melville C. Threlkeld 

MOTHER'S SONG, sung by Stephen Bowers 

Chorus of Priests, Nobles, Zealots, Soldiers, Slaves, Litter Bearers 



M. Angell 
M. Anger 
A. A. Arbogast 
R. A. Brown 
P. S. Carlton 
W. L. Cozzens 
M. E. Creswell 
T. G. Elliott 
J. O. England 
C. E. Engvick 
C. J. Evans 

W. B. FlEDLITZ 

H. Freeman 

E. Gerson 

R. A. Glenn 

C. E. Greenfield 

C. Harris 

R. B. Heath 



G. Brown 

E. J. Cardinal 

Wm. Cross 



CHORUS OF PRIESTS 

Chester Herold 
e. v. holton 
W. F. Hooke 
O. Johnson 
A. G. Kellogg 
W. R. Kneiss 
R. H. Lachmund 
G. Lane 
Chas. M. Lee 
R. Lundgren 
R. L Lynas 
F. A. Mack 
H. Malde . 

E. H. McCandlish 
J. McEwiNG 

F. Mueller 
A. E. Meyers 
R. M. Neilly 

CHORUS OF KINGSMEN 

D. A. Ervin 
W. H. Hopkinson 
W. A. Mitchell 
P. J. Mohr 



R. O'Brien 
H. L. Perry 
G. B. Peterson 
R. Probasco 

G. PURLENKY 

E. W. Roland 
J. S. Selfridge 

B. M. Stich 
A. H. Still 
J. F. Talbot 
J. M. Teel 
J. A. Thomas 
W. B. Thompson 

C. F. Volker 
P. H. Ward 
M. White 

G. R. Williams 
W. S. Wilson 
A. Y. Wood 



H. Orr 

J. L Thomas 
T. G. Whitaker 



DANCE OF THE ZEALOTS 

Wm. Lindley Abbott C. Dechent 

S. W. Blum 

A. M. Brown 

Leslie Cupples 

Wm. H. Cupples 

Fred B. Davis 



Chester Dechent 
George Hammersmith 
Fred W. Kappelman 
John Messersmith 
Harvey R. Olds 



Leland S. Poole 

DANCE OF THE DRYADS 

Wm. Lindley Abbott Fred W. Kappelman 

S. W. Blum Harvey R. Olds 

Fred B. Davis Leland S. Poole 

Charles Dechent William S. Rainey 



RETAINERS OF THE LORDS 
GAZA'S RETAINERS 



C. H. Bentley 
J. R. Selby 



D0N2EL StONEY 

Wm. L. Shaw 



Geo. Q. Chase 
John Howell 



GATH'S RETAINERS 



J. B. McCargar 
Donald McLaren 



ASHOD'S RETAINERS 



B. D. Dean 
R. W. Maples 



J. D. MiLLIKIN 

Wm. K. White 



ASHKELON'S RETAINERS 



J. C. Atwood 
C. T. Crocker 



G. J. Henry 
Armstrong Taylor 



W. R. Bacon 

C. C. DOBIE 



EKRON'S RETAINERS 



Geo. Van Smith 

R. L. McWiLLIAMS 



HAMUL'S MEN 



M. Anger 

A. A. Arbogast 

H. H. DiGNAN 

T. G. Elliott 
C. E. Engvick 
G. H. Evans 
G. J. Hatfield 



C. Herold 

E. V. HOLTON 

F. W. Kroll 
A. E. Meyers 
J. A. Moore 
R. O'Brien 

G. B. Stacy 



B. M. Stich 



LITTER BEARERS 



C. W. B. Cornelius 
W. A. Dwight 



T. C. Palmer 
H. C. Taft 



DIRECTOR GENERAL 

FOR THE JINKS COMMITTEE FREDERICK A. DeNICKE 

DIRECTOR Reginald Travers 

LIGHTING EFFECTS AND ILLUMINATION \ JRay F. Coyle 

. , /Homer Ansley 

Assisted by | Edwin L. Oliver 

COSTUMES AND PROPERTIES . . . Frank J. Van Sloun 

LuciEN Labaubt 

Ray Boynton 

Harry P. Carlton 

Harry S. Fonda 

SCENIC EFFECTS Herbert A. Schmidt 

DIRECTOR OF DANCES George Hammersmith 

CONDUCTOR . NinoMarcelli 

DIRECTOR OF CHORUS Eugene Blanchard 

CONCERT MASTER ...... Alexander Saslavsky 

ORCHESTRA MANAGER .... Walter Oesterreicher 

PROMPTER Frank C. Shaughnessy 



Assisted by 



PLAN OF MUSIC 

Prelude 

Invocation to Dagon 

Entrance of the Lords of Philistia 

Hail Philistia! 

The Glorification of Dagon 

Dance of the Zealots 

The Return of Hamul and his Men 

Saph's Narrative 

The Mother's Song 

Finale 



THE PROLOGUE 

Scene 

A woodland glade, shrouded in the mystery of dark nighty 
and the profound solemnity of great trees. Glimmerings of 
dawn are followed by the slow awakening of the forest. Calls 
of woodland spirits are heard, some cheerful, some sad, some 
tortured. As the light increases, Ackish, the young Prince of 
Philistia, is discovered asleep. Plaintive cries continue to he 
heard, and gradually creatures of the forest become discern- 
able: dryads, a Pan, timid fauns and elves. They discover 
the Prince, and indicate their curiosity and interest. One 
bolder dryad detaches himself from his fellows and draws 
near for closer inspection. In pantomimic dance, he portrays 
his admiration for the sleeping youth, his fear of impending 
tragedy, his eagerness for friendship, and a pressing need of 
assistance. Warnings of approaching danger are heard, and 
the dryad and other woodland creatures flee in alarm. "The 
forest illuminated, now, reveals the entrance of Moab, fol- 
lowed by Dor. 

Moab 
My task is done, and like a tethered hound, 
I strain the leash that binds me. Fain would I 
Begone. The hour attends when we depart; 
The kindly breeze that sees us homeward bound 
Already stirs the canvas of our sails. 
Where waits the Prince? 

Dor 

He was enamored of 
A woodland glade, — ^just such a one as this, — 
And told me he would there abide alone. 
Till we returned. 

[13] 



MOAB 

I fear the way is lost, 
And that thou art uncertain of the spot. 
Thy negligence may cost us dear. The King, 
Abimelech, almost a year ago, 
Did charge me with the keeping of his son, 
Did bid me journey to far-distant lands. 
And show to him the wonders of the world. 
He did entrust me with the Prince, and I 
Have loved my charge. To Egypt have we been. 
To Tyre, Sidon, and to Babylon, 
And no misfortune hath befallen us. 
But now upon the brink of our return. 
When we within the hour sail for home 
To bring the Prince of all the Philistines, 
Unto the King, his father, — doth mishap 
Waylay our steps ! Woe, woe betide thee. Dor, 
If he be harmed! 

Dor 

Good Moab, be assured, — 
He is not far. 'Twas some such spot as this. 
Lo, there he is! Asleep! Praised be the gods! 
For thou didst fill me with disquietude. 

Moab 

It is the Prince! And it is well for thee, 

No harm hath come to him. He must awake. 

For it behooves us to be gone; the sea 

Lies just beyond the hill; the eager ship 

Doth strain her moorings e'en as strains my heart 

To carry safe my cargo home again. 

Discharge my freight, and give my King account. 

[14] 



Dor 

Philistia! Thy Prince restored to thee 
Shall shortly be, our mission safely done! 

MOAB 

Awake thy master. We must not delay. 

Dor 

O Prince awake! My master Ackish Vake! 
Arise ! The hour is come when we depart, 
The good ship waits, our year of travel far 
Is o'er and we our faces turn toward home. 

AcKiSH {awakening, bewildered) 
Ah, what say you? . . . Good Moab, faithful Dor? 
Ah, what a dream had I, — or was it dream 
Or vision of my sleep? . . . Thy hand, my boy. 
. . . Oh, horrible illusion! Dream I still? . . . 

MoAB 

Not so, my lord, we do depart straightway 
For fair Philistia's shores. I have secured 
A timely passage and we sail forthwith. 

Ackish {still bewildered) 
Such odious crime, — such foul and wanton murder! 

MoAB 

What troubles thee, my Prince ? 

ACKISH 

My dream — my dream ! 

MoAB 

A figment of the brain, of no import. 

Ackish 
Not so. This fancy of my troubled sleep 

[15] 



Was all too vivid, too appalling strange 
To have no portent. 

Dor 

Hadst thou visions, then ? 

ACKISH 

Aye, visions, and a troubling revelation! 

Good Moab, — see this quiet, leafy glade? 

It did enchant me when I came on it, — 

These stately trees, these noble columned timbers. 

Rising in serried ranks like sentinels 

About this grove. I, drinking of its peace. 

Did lay me down and soon I was asleep. 

And as I slept, strange creatures came to me 

From out the woods, dryads and woodland sprites. 

And these grave trunks took on a gentle mien. 

And like a kindly race of giant friends 

They showed to me their hearts — their simple souls! 

Thus saw I them as guardians of the world. 

Beloved by bird and beast — by all the life 

That stirred and rustled, and was not afraid 

So near to them ! The elves and fauns and fays. 

With music and with laughter ringed them round. 

So that mine eyes were wet with tears of joy. 

My soul stirred deep with beauty. Sudden changed 

The dream : a troop of harsh and bloody fiends 

Burst in — they slew these trees — they hacked them down! 

They dragged their bodies off for gain, they left 

Their noble crowns, their princely vesture here 

To wither, mold, disintegrate — decay! 

And all this lovely opulence of green 

Became a wilderness, wind-swept and bare. 

Deserted by the laughing merry nymphs, 

[i6] 



The little peeping elves who danced for Pan, 
Except where some poor fallen tree lay dead, 
Forgotten, left to rot! There grasses bloomed, 
And loving vines crept o'er the broken corse. 
And hid the wound, and in the narrow shade. 
There lurked a weeping dryad, torn by grief! 

horrid sight! Would I might lift my hand 
To save a thing so noble! God-like trees. 
Thy purpose never falters; steadfast, sure. 
Thou ever pointest upward! Beauteous things, 

1 would befriend thee if I might, and serve 
Thee half as staunchly as thou servest me! 
And I will give the world when I am King, 
Thy royal dow'r of peace and fellowship. 
Of beauty and of kindness ! 

MOAB 

Dear my lord. 
The dream that so excites thee hath small weight, 
Though thou hast couched it in such moving terms! 
Now wake to action. Soft the moving feet 
Of time do tip- toe by; our ship awaits 
The turning of the tide. A fav'ring wind 
Toward fair Philistia blows. Thy father's arms 
Are stretched to welcome thee. Let us depart. 

ACKISH 

Farewell, dear land of dreams ! Oh, noble trees. 
Be still my friends when I am far away! 
I shall remember thee — thy message keep 
And cherish in my heart. And if this arm 
Of mine can bring thee succor in thy hour 
Of need, its strength is thine. Farewell O trees ! 
I shall remember thee. Farewell I Farewell ! 

[Exeunt 

[11] 



THE PLAY 

. . . Dwelt therein in times past a people great^ and man^ 
and tall as the Anakims; which also were accountei 
giants. . . . 

Deuteronomy II :io, ii. 

Scene. — A sacred forest grove outside the Temple q 
Dagon at Gaza in Philistia. Fagade of temple at R. wit, 
broad steps leading down. A chant of the priests of Dago'> 
is heard; as the hymn approaches its conclusion^ the priest 
file from the temple singings followed by Aaron, Malchalm 
and attendant group of slaves. 

HYMN TO DAGON 

D agon D agon D agon ! 

Humbly our homage we yield. 

Lord of the vines and the harvest, 
Lord of the flock and the field. 

Guardian of streams and of fountains. 

Mighty one, wise to direct us, 

Fling o'er our forests and mountains, 

All of thy might to protect us 
Hark to our voices repeating. 
Hark to our cries and entreating, 

Be to thy people a shield! 

D agon D agon D agon ! 

Now when the famine is near us, 
Fallen and vanished our glory, 

God of the powerless cheer us. 

Lift thou the crops that are failing, 
Hark, how the foeman rejoices, 
Widowed and fatherless wailing, 
Canst thou be deaf to their voices? 

[i8] 



Dagon, all wise and forgiving, 
Grant us the sweetness of living. 
Thou who are merciful, hear us ! 

Dagon Dagon Dagon ! 

Here at thy temple we sue thee. 

Now shall the smoke from the body 
Of the live offering woo thee 

Into thine hour of kindness. 

Dagon, we storm at thy portals! 

Thou wilt forgive us our blindness, 

Mighty one, we are but mortals! 
And while the sacrifice fuming. 
Softens thee toward our presuming, 

We shall do homage unto thee! 

Aaron 
The hour draws near when King Abimelech 
Holds council grave before great Dagon's shrine, 
From Ashkelon, and Gaza, Ekron, Gath, 
From distant Ashod come our noble Lords 
To legislate such measures as may bring 
The speedy help our people sorely need. 
Let Dagon's priests prepare the council seats. 
[Descends to lowest stage, 

Malchalam (to attendants) 
Swift take ye heed of Aaron's words. Set forth 
Such stalls as may most seemingly befit 
The dignity and honor of the court. 

XJoins Aaron on lowest stage while priests and 
slaves bring from the temple the seats for the council 
ring. After these are arranged^ they withdraw. 
High Priest, it is a bitter hour that brings 
The King and Lords of all the Philistines 

[19] 



In august council on this troubled day. 

Does Dagon sleep, while we who watch and pray, 

Must also watch hope die, and faith depart. 

Our country fall in ruin, — pass away ? 

His favor — D agones favor, the supreme, — 

Hath been denied his faithful worshippers 

The season's round. And fresh misfortune seeks 

With eager clasp the hand of stale ill-luck. 

Familiar hardship ever at our backs. 

Our stately ships lie broken on the rocks, 

Our busy marts, ere now Philistia's pride. 

Stand empty and forlorn; the barren fields 

Lie fallow, waste by drought, and pestilence 

And hunger take their daily toll of life. 

Aaron 

'Tis bitter truth. Philistia's breasts are dry. 
The little children mouth their hands for food. 

Malchalm 

A sorry state, but one which cannot be 

Alleviated by decree or law. 

The rulers of our cities, and our King 

Meet here to-day at Gaza's judgment-seat, 

To legislate some measure to restore 

Prosperity and plenty once again. 

'Tis idle effort. Law nor statute will 

Avail while Dagon frowns. 'Twere better far 

To sue the god for grace, engage his favor. 

Propitiate him in his deep displeasure. 

Aaron 

And what e're now hath never failed to 'suage 
Great Dagon's wrath? What hath unfailingly 
Appeased him, pacified his angry heart? 

[20] 



Malchalm 
A living sacrifice of gentle blood, 
A noble youth of princely lineage 
Our mighty god doth crave above all else. 
No common mortal sates his appetite; 
Oblations of patrician rank alone 
Will glut his maw, and gratify his greed. 

Aaron 

Thou speakest very truth, and to provide 
Such sacrifice to palliate our god. 
Meet here our noble Lords and gracious King. 
No purpose theirs to promulgate decrees, 
But theirs to formulate a plan whereby 
Almighty Dagon may be satisfied. 

Malchalm 

What death more precious could there be than one 
By which the suffering of mankind might cease! 

Aaron 

Yet though among our royal princes stood 

There one to welcome such a martyrdom, 

Accept the fiery kiss from Dagon*s lips. 

His ardent clasp, his passionate embrace, 

'Twere needless death, a futile sacrifice. 

There dwells not two moons' journey from our land 

A race of giants all of noble blood. 

The Anakims, — great-limbed, with towering heads 

Uplifted to the skies. 

Malchalm 

Above all else 
Desired most by Dagon. Well I know 
The great god's hunger for these mighty men. 

[21] 



Aaron 

The tigress calling for her mate, the wolf 
Long on his quarry's trail, hot for his prey. 
The mother yearning o'er her ailing child, 
The wanton mad to satisfy her lust. 
None craves as Dagon craves the noble blood 
And savory flesh of these colossal men. 

Malchalm 

The season's lagging circle is complete 
Since sacrifice to Dagon hath been made. 
How comes it that so long a time hath 'lapsed 
Ere we have had a captive from this land.f* 

Aaron 

Knowst thou the lofty stature and the size, 
The bulk and brawny magnitude these men 
Attain? Like mighty columns stand they fast, 
Their feet among the grasses of the plain. 
Their heads among the clouds. Majestically 
They lift themselves in towering stateliness. 
Of peace they are and disposition mild, 
Unwarlike, helpless 'gainst the keen-edged sword. 
'Twere idle otherwise to dare presume 
Phiiistia's men of valor might prevail 
In combat o'er such formidable foes. 
Great age they know, a thousand years and more. 
Each twelve-month adding to their magnitude. 
Their King, — old Rapha, venerable, seer, — 
A mighty monarch, oldest of them all, — 
'Tis said was born while yet the world was^new. 
Ere pigmy man in cities walled himself. 
Or hid in houses fearful of the storm. 

[22] 



Malchalm 

How comes it then our valiant fighting men 
From forays e'er victorious 'gainst this foe 
Bring hither captives of no stature huge, 
But youths of size and height no more than ours. 
Alike to us, to any Philistine, 
Nor taller by so much as half a head? 

Aaron 

Such captives are but striplings of the race. 

Their younger sons, in age a score of years. 

Whereas we reach our height at man's estate. 

These giants steadily each round of months 

Lift up their heads still higher, taller soar. 

Great Dagon must have living sacrifice; 

Alive his meat must be. In captive state 

To bring a full-grown giant to our land 

Would prove by far too arduous a task. 

What fetters, chains or manacles are there 

So strong, so stout, so intricately made. 

As can withstand the strength of limbs so huge, 

Unused to bonds, rebellious of restraint? 

These proud and stately creatures welcome death. 

Accept the sword in arrogant disdain. 

Prefer to die than to submit to chains. 

For many years our valiant fighting men 

Have havoc wrought against this stalwart tribe 

To purpose good. Their dwindling number makes 

It ever harder and more difficult, :;:::| 

The capture of their sons, their tender youths, 

Who, in their adolesence, have not won 'j 

The mighty size and still more mighty strength. 

Malchalm 
Yet did not Hamul, Captain of the Host, 

[23] 



Set forth with ten score picked and fearless men 
These six months gone in eager enterprise 
To wrest such captives from the Anakims? 

Aaron 

Brave Hamul hath been grievously beset 

By storms of wind and rain, hath lost his way, 

And suffered hunger, thirst, and cruel want. 

And now for space of three months come and gone, 

No tidings good or evil hath he sent. 

Grave doubts possess the wisest of our chiefs; 

They dread disaster to our doughty band. 

Fear lest brave Hamul and his men are dead. 

Or peradventure are in cruel straits, 

Awaiting help from us that doth not come. 

And so our Lords and King meet here today 

In council to debate what policy 

Should shape our course: to Hamul speedy aid 

Dispatch, or hold our hand in trust some news 

Will shortly come. The people suffer want. 

Their urgent cry for food assaults our ears 

And whips our lagging purpose with its lash. 

Malchalm 

I hear the trumpets and the march of feet; 
The Lords are gathering at the judgment-seat. 

Aaron 

We'll to the temple and prepare to greet 
The King Abimelech and all his suite. 

[Exeunt, 
[Enter the Lord of Gaza with retainers singing, 

[24] 



Men of Gaza 

Greatest of all Philistia 

The men of Gaza march, 
Above the flashing of their shields. 

The heavens bend their arch. 
Before them flies the routed foe, 

The cowards shun their flanks, 
As o'er a world submissive go 

The men of Gaza's ranks. 

For he who moves by field or fen. 
Must reckon first with Gaza's men; 
And he who puts it to the test. 
Will find our arrows at his breast. 

[Enter the Lord of Ashkelon with attendants singing 

Men of Ashkelon 

We are the men of Ashkelon, 

Good servants of the King, 
And where our serried thousands throng. 

There is no garnering. 
Yet love we well the harvest days. 

When low the red sun shines, 
And haloes in a golden haze 

The maidens and the vines. 

Come back, oh days of peace and power, 
The bride's rose and the passion-flower, 
And let the yield of earth and stream. 
Make care and want a distant dream. 

[Enter the Lord of Gath with attendants singing, 

[25] 



Men of Gath 

Singing before they bend their back, 

Our bowmen take the field, 
And what a harvest, red and black. 

The ordered furrows yield ! 
Our quiet women at their looms, 

Smile as they bind their hair 
With the gold fillets and perfumes 

The foeman's women wear. 

Make ready in the days of peace. 
For what may follow when they cease. 
None but the King dare face the wrath 
That stirs the mighty men of Gath. 

[Enter the Lord of Ekron with attendants singing. 

Men of Ekron 

Death is obedient to our hands, 

The crash of echoing steel 
Flas told afar in alien lands 

The hate our ranks may feel. 
To fight and love, — these be the lot 

Of soldiers of the King, 
And passion's breath is not more hot 

Than our embattling. 

About the safety of our Lord, 
Stands fast the wall of Ekron's sword. 
And where we hunt and strike to kill. 
The thirsty steel shall drink its fill. 

[Enter the Lord of Ashod with attendants singing, 

[26] 



Men of Ashod 

A guarded mountain fastness ours, 

Across long leagues of plain, 
And where we dwell the tempest lowers. 

And sweeps the hurricane. 
But when the call to battle rings. 

Right ready are we then, 
Quick to the post each warrior springs. 

For we are Ashod's men ! 

What though the forest dim their trail. 
The men of Ashod shall not fail. 
With trumpet blast and beat of drum. 
Across the desert sands v/e come! 

Gaza 

To Gaza, noble Lords, I bid you welcome; 
Too long a time hath lapsed without this honor. 

ASHKELON 

We thank thee. Lord of Gaza. Ashkelon 
Returns thy hearty greeting and thy love. 

Ekron 

The harvest moon hath run her silver course 
Since last we met before great Dagon's shrine. 

Gath 

All hail, great ruler. Brother Philistines 
And brother princes, I salute you all. 

Ashod 

From distant Ashod have I travelled far. 
Content to greet you 'neath fair Gaza's walls. 

[27] 



Gaza 
When last Abimelech convened us here, 
We had brave plans afoot for eager war. 
But now, — alas! — a far less joyful cause 
Hath brought us here in answer to his call. 

Ekron 
An evil blight hath fallen on our land. 

ASHOD 

The stealthy fingers of the mortal plague 
Close round my people's throats, a deadly grip, 
The only harvest Ashod knows is death. 

ASHKELON 

In Ashkelon, my Lords, there are no crops ! 
The land lies parched; the weeds are shrivelled in 
The paths; Gilboa's sides are black and seared. 
The rivers, Hebron and Chebar, are dry, 
Their beds are dust. The fig upon the tree 
Is withered and the cattle die from thirst. 

Oath 

In stricken Gath, — the richest of our towns. 

The city of Philistia's mart, wherein. 

The rushing currents of the world of trade 

Flowed nobly and as nobly ebbed, — where came 

The spices of Arabia, the silks 

From rich Damascus, Egypt's wheat and corn. 

From Lebanon its cedars, Syrian figs. 

Heaped woolly pelts from Tartary, and wine 

Red from the vineyards of the Israelites, — 

'Tis even so. The produce of the world 

Flowed through our markets, weighed our pregnant ships, 

[28] 



Heaped high our coffers ! Lords, they come no more ! 
Our galleys founder on unfriendly seas, 
Or lie in broken wreckage on the shore. 
Deserted are the marts of Gath; the streets 
Are filled with mourners hungry in their weeds ! 

Gaza 

So, too, in Gaza, humbled in her pride. 

She starves upon her hills. The chink of gold 

We hear no more. The jingling shekels cease 

To sound their clinking music in our ears. 

Starvation threatens us ! . . . But hark, methinks 

I hear the chanting voices in the temple; 

The priests of Dagon raise their prayer in song. 

ASHKELON 

The High Priest Aaron cometh to our council; 
It will behoove us all to close attend him. 

[Enter a procession of priests chanting. 

Priests of Dagon 

Dagon Dagon Dagon ! 

Humbly our homage we yield. 

Lord of the vines and the harvest. 
Lord of the flock and the field. 

Guardian of streams and of fountains. 

Mighty one, wise to direct us. 

Fling o'er our forests and mountains, 

All of thy might to protect us. 
Hark to our voices repeating. 
Hark to our cries and entreating. 
Be to thy people a shield! 

[29] 



D agon D agon D agon ! 

Now that the famine is near us. 

Fallen and vanished our glory, 
God of the powerless hear us ! 

Lift thou the crops that are failing. 

Hark, how the foeman rejoices, 

Widowed and fatherless wailing! 

Canst thou be deaf to their voices? 
Dagon, all wise and forgiving. 
Grant us the sweetness of living, 

Thou who are merciful, hear us ! 

[y^t the conclusion of the hymn^ Aaron, followed by 
Malcolm, appears at the portals of the temple, the 
ranks of the priests divide, and the High Priest 
comes down stage, and addresses the Lords. 

Aaron 

We gather here today 'neath Gaza's walls 
To make complaint before our worthy King, 
And tell of grave affliction that hath come 
Upon the people of our fatherland. 
Full well I know the justice of your plaints; 
We face indeed a situation grave; 
Yet ere this council doth begin, I beg 
You heed advice. 

ASHKELON 

Most Holy Priest, your words 
Have ever had a welcome in our hearts. 
No admonition know we more revered 
Than thine. We importune thee to advise. 

Aaron 

Apostle of our sacred god am I, 

His inmost confidence is mine, and when 

[301 



I speak, great Dagon speaks, and by my mouth 
His voice is heard. Give heed, oh Philistines, 
To Dagon 's words. 

Gath 

Most humbly we attend. 

Aaron 

Thus spake the god: "I, Dagon, am incensed, 
My wrath is kindled, hot my anger is. 
My fury flameth, and my wrath is fierce. 
Accursed be my people for their sins. 
May they know famine, suffer pestilence, 
May death their portion be, and may their seed 
Be scattered to the corners of the earth. 
For they have chosen to neglect their god, 
Forgotten to make sacrifice to him. 
No homage paid, no tribute have they brought. 
No longer do they make their first concern 
My needs. I shall abandon them in turn; 
Annihilation shall their portion be. 
Disease and hunger, war and pestilence 
Shall swiftly blot them from the face of earth ! 

ASHOD 

Oh, dreadful doom! — Oh, fearful punishment 
Our sinful heedlessness hath well deserved! 

Ekron 

Good Aaron, we beseech thee to avert 
This dreadful fate. We beg thee intercede 
For us, placate the god, forgiveness win. 

ASHOD 

Instruct us what to do to make amends, 

[31] 



And for our wicked negligence atone. 

Aaron 

Nay, listen yet awhile how spake the god: 

"I, Dagon, am ahungered, — starved my soul. 

God though I am, I crave both drink and food. 

Oblation and libation must I have. 

My faithful priests devoutly sing their songs, 

And tend my vacant altar day and night; 

The ceremonies and the chants of praise. 

Are well enough, but this sufficeth not. 

The smoke of sacrifice, the drip of blood. 

The sav'ry scent of crisping noble flesh. 

Alone will satisfy my gnawing need. 

With base-born slaves, and common, bleating sheep. 

My sacred altar have you dared defile. 

Until ye make a fitting oflFering, 

Calamity shall hound your steps. When next 

The moon hath waned above Philistia, 

My patience ends, and with a mighty sweep 

Your walls shall crumble, cities disappear. 

Yourselves, your children, all shall I destroy, 

Exterminate your race." 

Gaza 

Oh hideous fate ! 
What hath befallen us ! 

Gath 

Good Aaron, plead 
Our cause, avert so terrible a doom ! 

Aaron 

Lords of the Philistines, hark well to me: — 
Our incensed deity we may placate 

[32] 



With speedy offering of some royal youth 

Whose blood shall straightway feed the altar fire. 

You come here with the story of your griefs, 

Each one believing his the greatest plight 

Among you all. My Lords, your woes will cease. 

Your troubles disappear when Dagon dines. 

Abimelech will soon be here, — e'en now 

Methought I heard his trumpets at our walls, — 

When he arrives, I charge you earnestly 

Waste not your breath in repetitions dull 

Of this great woe and that calamity. 

Of how the cattle died, how failed the crops, 

But take with him a tone of stern rebuke. 

Of censure — aye, of censure ! Have no fear. 

But tax him with his failure to provide 

Our god with food. Demand from him account 

Of how it comes no offering has been made 

In all these moons! He is responsible. 

See that ye hold him so ! Which of ye here 

Would hesitate to blame a son who failed 

His aged father when that father begged 

Of him some needy food? Abimelech 

Hath failed his father so; our mighty god 

Is procreator of Abimelech! 

Shall you permit the King to starve your god. 

The father of us all ? 

ASHKELON 

Not so, — not so! 
Abimelech in stern accounting shall 
Be called, and I for one shall beard his wrath. 
And tax him roundly with his negligence. 
I have no fear of him ! 

[33] 



Gaza 

Nor I! 

Ekron 

Nor I! 

[Horns off stage and the music of a march. 

Aaron 

List, *tis Abimelech! The King's at hand! 

Heed well the words with which I Ve counselled you, 

Forget the speeches ready on your tongues 

With which you planned to stir our sympathy 

And move this synod. Gird yourselves instead 

With what determination ye may claim 

To call the polished forces of the King 

To an accounting for his culpable 

Default, and charge him he provide straight-way 

The princely sacrifice that shall appease 

Your justly angry and neglected god! 

[Enter King Abimelech, resplendently costumed^ 
drawn in a chariot yoked to white bullocks capari^ 
soned in housings of gold and purple^ followed by 
military guards attendants and slaves^ including 
Amon, Sisera and Boaz. 

SONG OF THE KING'S MEN 

King's Men 
Who doubts our country's power? 

Who challenges our host? 
Behold our glorious hour. 
And harken to our boast! 

Hail to Philistia, — hail! 

[34] 



Forever strong and splendid, 

Our conquering voices raise, 
A chorus never-ended. 

In great Philistia's praise. 

Hail to Philistia, — hail! 

How weak their walls before us ! 

How swift their sudden rout! 
Beneath the fiery chorus 

Of our great battle shout! 

Hail to Philistia, — hail! 

Philistia, — mighty nation, — 

Be glorious in war. 
And we in deep prostration 

Shall praise thee evermore! 

Hail to Philistia, — hail! 

King 

My Lords and faithful friends, most reverend Priest, 
I bid you royal greeting, — one and all. 

[to Gath. 
Most cordial salutations, gracious Prince; 

[to Ashod. 
My Lord of Ashod, welcome to our court, 
I know the weary journey that is thine. 
Ere Gaza's walls confront thy tired eyes. 

[to Gaza. 

And thou, — thy city's battlements must lift 
Their rock-hewn heads in proud acknowledgment 
Each time affairs of state necessitate 
The gathering here within your stately gates 
Of so resplendent an illustrious group. 

[35] 



Gaza 

Indeed, 'tis so, yet this occasion did 
Display so grave a face me thought 'twould be 
More seemly were our city's walls festooned 
With drapes of deepest hues and darkest dyes. 

King 
A proper voucher of our sympathy. 
Today, when all the people are in want. 

Gaza 
Yet think not Gaza's Lord insensible 
To honor Gaza gains through company 
Of so distinguished and august a mien. 

King 

'Tis well. Let's to our business. We'll dispense 

With ceremony. Grave reports I hear 

Of evils that beset from every side. 

What say you now, my Lord of Ashkelon ? 

Your grave foreboding looks bespeak dark thoughts, 

Ashkelon 

In truth, they are both serious and sad. 

But I shall not attempt to here describe 

The canopy of blackest gloom that hangs 

O'er Ashkelon. Against our weary lips 

Is pressed the cup of salt adversity,^ 

And one and all have drained the contents deep. 

The specter of disaster stalks abroad; 

Philistia hath come on evil days. 

'Tis so in all the cities of the land, 

Our aching eyes find daily proof of it. 

But let this recitation of our woes 

[36] 



Abide awhile; let's seek the cause, the cause 
For all these ills, for cause most surely must 
There be for so much universal grief! 

Ekron 

My brother speaks with wisdom. Is there smoke 
Where iire burneth not? For common ills 
There must be common cause. 

King 

And who is wise 
To tell us what occasions all this woe? 

ASHKELON 

ril be so bold. Great Dagon is ahungered! 
Our sacred god hath known no sacrifice 
Of noble blood for space of nigh a year. 
For our neglect his vengeance scorcheth us, 
And from his hand come these afflictions dire! 

ASHOD 

'Tis punishment for our indifference; 

'Gainst Dagon have we sinned most grievously! 

Gaza 

His scourge is on our backs; he plies the lash 
And jflogs us with disaster on disaster! 

AsHKELON 

The voice of all Philistia cries out 
For sacrifice to light its altar fires. 

King 

Six months ago, great Hamul was despatched 

Into the land of giants to secure 

A captive for our sacrifice. And now, 

[37] 



Four moons have gone, the tidings cometh not; 
We know not if he lives or dies. 

ASHKELON 

And in the meantime, crops have failed, our marts 
Are closed, the cattle die, the children faint 
From lack of food ! 

King 

Yet patience, Ashkelon! 
Success must wait on Hamul 's feats of arms, 
And reason have we to expect success. 
The Oracle of Ekron hath declared 
That Hamul would prevail against the foe. 
And bring to Dagon fitting sacrifice. 

Ekron 

With mine own ears heard I the oracle 
Thus speak, foretelling victory for us. 

Aaron 

"I hunger," said the god, "make sacrifice 
Upon my altar or destruction waits!" 
The Oracle of Ekron prophesies, — 
But doth it say when Hamul shall return? 
Return mayhap when all of us are dead. 

Ashkelon 
Thou hearest what the Priest of Dagon saith? 
What answereth thou? 

King 

To Aaron's words I give, 
Good heed, yet have I faith in oracles. 
We shall have news of Hamul soon, — good news. 

[38] 



ASHKELON 

And is that all? Thine office doth thou then 
Fulfill by merely counselling more delay. 
And saying to thy starving people: "Wait — 
Wait on — and hunger on!" 

King 

What else is there 
That may be said ? 

AsHKELON , 

The time is past to hope 
That chance may favor us. Thou art the King, 
And thine the duty in this bitter hour 
To satisfy our god, and save us all. 
Wilt thou not lead thy people in their need? 

King 

I like not thy presumption, Ashkelon. 
Dost dare to question then thy King? 

Ashkelon 

I dare 
As much and more while ringing in my ears 
I hear the children crying for the milk 
That drieth in their mothers* withered breasts. 

King 

Let not the people 's need serve as a cloak 
For insolence! Audacious fool! More swift 
Than Dagon's is my wrath, and Ashkelon 
A barren wilderness shall be within 
The day if I shall choose to punish thee! 

139] 



Gath 
Then may thy arm be strong, O King, and deal 
With Gath as thou doth deal with Ashkelon. 

Ekron 
And so with Ekron! 

Gaza 

And with Gaza, too! 

ASHOD 

Forget not Ashod in thy punishment! 

King 
My Lords — my Lords! What treason have we here? 

Ashkelon 

No treason, King, but fair and just demand. 
We challenge thee urged by the common need. 

King 

Black-hearted traitors! Would ye flout your King, — 

And beard him to his face, — defiance hurl? 

Upon your heads my vengeance then shall fall! 

This night your naked bodies shall be nailed 

Upon our walls, your shaven heads adorn 

My battlements, your children driven forth. 

And with your wives mv soldiers shall make free! 

Ashkelon 
Do thou thy worst! United we defy thee! 

Malchalm 

Thus Dagon*s awful words shall be fulfilled; 
A civil strife impends, and so shall be 
Supplied the means by which this sinful race 

[40] 



Of faithless worshippers shall be effaced. 
The purpose of our god takes shape before 
Mine eyes! The wicked shall destroy themselves. 
And brother brother kill, until at last. 
Their swords against the consecrated priests 
Shall turn, the final, awful sacrilege 
Which will presage the speedy doom of all! 

Messenger {off stage) 

King! Most noble King! Abimelech! 

Malchalm 
My Lords, forbear! O King, a cry I hear! 

King 

1 heard it, too, — my name upon the wind! 
Perchance it is the message we await. 

To prove the wisdom of the oracle. 

[A messenger appears on the upper hillside, 

Gaza 
A runner comes with tidings. 

King 

Bid him haste! 
Ashkelon 
Approach thou, with thy news. 

Messenger 

Most gracious King, 
Thy son is here. To Gaza's gates he came. 
And now the people shout his name for joy, 
As through the streets he comes, while on before 
I ran to bring thee first the gladsome news. 

[41] 



King 
My son, — my Prince ! O best beloved boy. 
Art come again into thy father's arms, 
The gift of some divining power that shines 
As light in this dark hour ? 

Gaza 

A year and more 
Our Prince hath wandered through the world in search 
Of knowledge. 

ASHKELON 

Let us hope 'tis gained, and that 
He brings his new-found wisdom to our aid. 

Gath 
None favored more than he! 

Ekron 

A lucky chance 
Brings Ackish to our council and this stress! 

[AcKiSH appears on upper hillside accompanied by 
Moab and Dor; he raises an arm in distant salu- 
tation. 

ACKISH 

Ho Lords, — good Philistines and faithful friends ! 
If in your midst the King, my father, sits. 
My greeting first to him ! Salute for me 
Abimelech. 

\Shouts of welcome. Ackish descends. 

King 
My son ! 

[42] 



Gaza 

All hail— all hail! 
All welcome to our best beloved Prince! 

King 
My son! 

Gath 

O Ackish, timely art thou come! 

Ekron 
Our loyal greetings, Prince, to thee. 

King 

My son ! 
Gaza 

Thy countrymen who love thee in their hearts. 
Rejoice in thy return. 

Ackish 

Where is the King? 
Where is m v noble father ? 

King 

Son — my Prince! 

Ackish 
My father! O my King! O sovereign dear! 
[Kneeling and kissing hem of robe. 

King 
Embrace me boy, but not upon thy knees, 
[Raising him. 

Come close unto my heart where thou art King 
Already and doth rule with tyranny! 

[43] 



ACKISH 

Thy humblest, most devoted subject, Sire. 

King 

And from thy wandering art home again? 
And hast thou seen the mighty Pyramids, 
The pomp of Pharaoh, Egypt's pageantry, 
The glories of far-distant Babylon, 
Sennacherib's resplendent court, and all 
The golden temples of the Ammonites? 

ACKISH 

Yea, all of these, and saw I more beside. 
Vast wonders upon wonders, marvels great 
Surpassing marvels. These can better wait 
A time more fitting when thy news and mine 
May be exchanged at leisure. 

King 

Be it so. 
Yet let me be assured that thou hast well 
Survived thy journey, and that all my hopes 
For what thou shouldst both see and shouldst achieve, 
Have been attained. 

Prince 

'Tis even so and more 
Than these has been accomplished with success. 
I beg thee question Moab who hath served 
Me faithfully and well. 

King 

We greet thee, friend, — 
Good Moab, hearty thanks; most royally 
Shalt thou be paid for thy lideUty. 

[44] 



But tell us now, what of thy journey ings? 
How bore our son himself? With what degree 
Of cordiality was he received? 

MOAB 

In every circumstance and every place, 
The gracious Prince did so comport himself 
As best becomes his honor and thine own. 
He hath seen many marvels, — this is well. 
But more he hath accomplished, for where e'er 
He visited he hath made friends for thee 
And for Philistia. The Kingdoms near 
Are well-disposed. The nations of the world 
Stand ready to befriend us, — take our part. 
And send us help in case of untoward stress. 

ASHKELON 

My Lords, may we not benefit ourselves. 
And ease the anguish of our stricken land 
By an appeal to these new friends ? Our Prince 
Shall be our advocate and press our cause. 

Prince 

Hear I aright? Didst thou say ''stricken land"? 
The "anguish" of our people? Father, speak! 
Are we in need? What mean these dreadful words? 

King 
Thou hast returned on evil times my son; 
Adversity is with us. I am old. 
Yet in the long procession of my days 
There has been no such dole within our midst. 
Our land is stricken! All our glory sinks 
In famine and in pestilence. Today, — 
E'en now, — we gather here to make debate 

[45] 



As to the means that shall propitiate 
Our angry god. And while I urged delay, 
The Lords, — my vassals five, e'er now so true, — 
Did threaten me, — accuse me of misrule! 

ACKISH 

What now, disloyalty among our Lords! — ■ 
But I shall credit them, and not mine ears. 

Aaron 

'Tis true, and I did urge them to protest. 

We may no longer hang upon delay. 

Our god a warning hath pronounced. The Lords, 

The people by my mouth have heard his words: 

Unless a sacrifice of noble blood 

Burns on his altar, Dagon will destroy 

Us and our land! 

King 

I did remind the Lords 
That gallant Hamul is despatched six months 
To meet the giant foe, and to procure 
From our hereditary enemy 
The sacrifice that Dagon claims. No word 
Hath come from Hamul of his victory — 
If victory he hath! And still we wait. 
And starve, and starve and wait! The Lords cry out 
Against my counsel further to delay. 

Aaron 

To wait for word from Hamul is to wait 
In vain; our Captain and his men are dead. 

Gaza 
Heardst thou the Priest? He saith that Hamulus dead! 

[46] 



All hidden things to him the god reveals. 

ASHKELON 

What shall be gained if still we longer wait? 

Gath 

The angry people, starving and enraged. 
May feed on us for want of other food ! 

Gaza 

Their eyes are hungry for me as I pass. 
They stare at me in sullen mood; I fear 
Their baleful looks. 

ASHOD 

The desert 's burning breath 
Blows empty and consuming from the east; 
I dare not face again its scorching touch. 
Without some reassuring word that will 
Appease my gaunt and famished subjects. 

ACKISH 

Then 
Most happily have I returned, my Lords, 
My timely coming proves great Dagon's plan, 
His purpose that 'tis I who shall redeem 
You, — save you from your miseries and woe. 
Tomorrow, with what fighting men there are 
In Gaza, I depart on Hamul's trail. 
Nor night, nor day shall we know rest until 
I come upon the giants in their land. 
Do battle, rout their forces, capture one. 
And bring the prisoner, chained and manacled, 
To Dagon's temple yonder, there to burn 
And expiate our sin. 

[47] 



King 

O nobly spoke! 
Doth this suffice? 

ASHKELON 

The time doth not permit! 
Ere Ackish come again, our cities fair 
Will crumbled lie, our country barren wastes 
Shall be, ourselves destroyed! 

ACKISH 

Thou knowest not 
The temper of my purpose, Ashkelon. 

AsHKELON 

Thy temper may be not, — may flame, indeed — 

Yet it will naught avail against the word. 

The dreadful wrath of Dagon. "When the moon 

Once more hath waned above Philistia 

My patience endeth; then shall I destroy." 

Thus spoke the god. Were not these Dagon 's words? 

Aaron 

"The screaming of your children shall be drowned 
Amid the crashing crumble of your walls. 
And deep shall they be buried where they fall. 
Your cities proud shall lie in ruined heaps. 
And in amongst them shall the jackal prowl 
In search of carrion and carcass foul!" 

Gaza 
Oh woe! Oh woe to us! 

ASHOD 

No hope remains! 

[48] 



Ekron 
The oracle is proven basely false. 

[Enter Soldier on upper hillside. 

Soldier 
Oh tidings, Philistines! I bring great news! 

MOAB 

Behold a man with tidings! See him there! 

ACKISH 

A messenger! {calling) Whom seek ye? Bring thy news. 

Soldier 

Advice I have for King Abimelech, 
Let none delay my steps. 

King 

Again my name! 
Who calls Abimelech? What now portends.^ 

ACKISH 

The King with all his Lords holds council grave 
At Gaza's judgment-seat. Bring here thy news. 

[Soldier descends the hillside. 
A runner comes who doth proclaim he holds 
Glad tidings for thine ear, and thine alone. 

King 

A welcome herald he, for news that 's good 
Is doubly good amidst calamity. 

Ashkelon 

The gleaming shimmer of his coat of mail 
Proclaims his calling. 

[49] 



Gaza 

Soldier then Is he! 

Gath 
Perchance from Flamul comes there good report! 

ASHKELON 

Fain would I hope yet dare I not so much! 

AcKisH (to approaching Soldier) 

Bestir thy steps. Impatient waits the King. 
The promise of good news to those that weep 
Doth tease as doth the drip of water cool 
The throats that burn with thirst. 

Soldier {reaching stage) 
I seek the King! 

ACKISH 

Behold him there. 

King 

Thy news? 
Let not delay attend thy sluggish speech. 
[Soldier kneels before Abimelech. 

Soldier 

King, — live forever! 

Thy men of valor shall subdue the earth, 

Make thy enemies thy foot-stool, 

The nations of the earth bow down before thee! 

King 
Enough! Unfold thy news, — unleash thy tongue! 

Soldier 

1 come from Hamul, Captain of the Host. 

[50] 



Against the giants hath he handily 
Prevailed, and after hardships, grievous straits. 
Their thousands hath he slain, and brings he now 
Their Prince, young Saph, the son of aged Kapha, 
Whorn Hamul single-handed slew; and Saph 
To mighty Dagon shall be sacrificed. 

King 
Now praise to Dagon, — praise for evermore! 
Mine enemies he hath delivered to 
My hands! Our arms against the foe once more 
Triumphant have been borne! Courageous Hamul 
Philistia's deathless gratitude hath earned! 

ACKISH 

O warrior brave, — thy country's savior thou! 
Our grateful love for evermore is thine! 

Gaza 

From dreadful doom he hath delivered us. 

ASHKELON 

Now Dagon 's hunger shall be satisfied. 
Tis well; the vengeful anger of our god 
My heart did fill with grave disquietude. 

Aaron 

The sacrifice! At last the sacrifice! 
Good Malchalm, soon our altars shall be red 
With flames and blood. We'll heap the pyre high 
For the great feast! 

King 

O harken, Philistines! 
Quick spread these joyous tidings through the land, 
Send forth fleet runners to our cities five, — 

[51] 



To distant Ashod first, dispatch the news, 

To Ekron and to regal Ashkelon, 

And publish it in Gath, — and let today 

The daughters of the Philistines rejoice! 

For woe is at an end and pestilence 

And famine shall depart from out our midst. 

A time of generous plenty is at hand, 

The music of the golden shekels heaped 

Shall echo in our coffers once again. 

The giants in their thousands have we slain, 

And Hamul bringeth captive to our god 

Old Kapha's son as royal sacrifice. 

My Lord of Gaza, lay a bounteous feast, — 

Fat sucklings, beeves, whate'er thou hast, and let 

Wine from the grape-press flow both red and free, 

Make dance and song, and let our carnival 

Be graced by that kind god of festival. 

The Golden Calf. Bring forth the god, ye Priests, 

And set his shining image in our midst. 

Let us rejoice, for great is our excuse! 

Let us rejoice, our armies have prevailed! 

Let us rejoice, so when brave Hamul comes 

In happy mood we'll be to welcome him. 

Lift up your voices, Dagon's priests! Intone 

His praise, sing ye his glory evermore! 

[yf hymn in joyous glorification of D agon ^ is begun by 
' the priests. During the first two stanzas of the songy 

a table is brought on and arranged before Abime- 
LECH, seats are placed for the Lords, and the table 
is set with viands and great drinking cups, The 
feast begins. With the third stanza^ the character of 
the music changes ^ and the image of the Golden Calf 
is carried in^ in triumph by the priests from the 

[52] 



temple, The paean to Dagon now becomes less re- 
ligious in tone, and grows more jubilant, praising 
the Golden Calf. The image of the Calf is carried to 
the lowest stage, the priests ranging themselves about 
it, still singing. On the middle stage, the King, 
Prince and Lords are feasting and draining their 
drinking cups. 

HYMN IN GLORIFICATION OF DAGON 

Priests 

We shall sing to Dagon who is master of our fates, 

Let us lay before him all the glory of our praise; 

Silent in the dimness and the incense he awaits 

All that men shall bring him from the fullness of their days. 

Dagon thou art power, thou art strong to help or hate, 
Who shall know thy splendor with a heart untouched by 

fear ? 
Gather we adoring thee outside thy temple gate, 
Dagon, thou art god and we are mortals, — dost thou hear? 

Let the bays and laurels in a canopy entwine. 
Bring the roasted offerings to spread about his feet, 
Pour before the Golden Calf the rubies of the vine. 
We shall dance and sing, who find our victory so sweet! 

Calf of Gold, we greet thee! Let thy golden heart enjoy 
All the thousand wonders of the triumph we prepare, 
Lo, before thy brazen face we'll dance and sing with joy, 
Glorifying Dagon who hath heard his people's prayer! 

\At the conclusion of this chorus, the music merges 
into a wild dance measure, and from the temple 
rush religious zealots who fling themselves into a 

[53] 



mad revel^ twining garlands about the neck of the 
Golden Calf, prostrating themselves before the idol. 
T'he dance is interrupted by the approach o/Hamul 
^ and his returning soldiers. The priests surge for- 
ward, dispersing the dancers and burst out into 
the following martial song in which the entire com- 
pany join. 'To the cadence of the march, Hamul 
and his men are seen descending the hillside, Saph, 
heavily manacled, in their midst. 

SONG OF THE PRIESTS OF DAGON UPON THE RETURN 
OF HAMUL AND HIS MEN 



Marching erect and victorious. 

Swift to the beat of the drum, 
High in their power and glorious. 
Home from the conquest they come. 
Hamul, we meet thee, 
Hamul, we greet thee. 

Crown thee with evergreen bays. 
Maidens shall glory 
Telling the "story. 

Children shall lisp in thy praise. 
Waving of banner and trumpet and beating of drum. 
Out of the thick of the battle our warriors come! 

II 
What shall they fear who are fearless ? 
What shall be theirs who succeed? 
Swordsmen — eternally peerless, — 
Earth shall resound with thy deed! 
Hamul, we meet thee, 
Hamul, we greet thee. 

Crown thee with evergreen bays. 

[54] 



Maidens shall glory. 
Telling the story, 

Children shall lisp in thy praise. 

Waving of banner and trumpet and beating of drum. 
Out of the thick of the battle our warriors come! 

Ill 
Soldiers, — who mastered as cattle 

All of our enemies' ranks, — 

Take now the fruit of the battle. 

Take thou Philistia's thanks. 

Hamul, we meet thee, 

Hamul, we greet thee. 

Crown thee with evergreen bays. 
Maidens shall glory. 
Telling the story. 

Children shall lisp in thy praise. 

Waving of banner and trumpet and beating of drum. 
Out of the thick of the battle our warriors come! 

[Sung by Hamul and his men upon reaching the 

main stage, 

IV 

Who shall destroy or alarm us? 
We who are thirsty for fight? 
We who have Dagon to arm us 

With the great sword of his might? 
Dagon, before thee, 
Lo, we adore thee, 

God of Philistia divine! 
Banners we bring thee. 
Humbly v/e sing thee. 



Lord, all our glory is thine! 
[ All Singing 
Waving of banner and trumpet, and beating of drum, 
Out of the thick of the battle our warriors come! 

[At the conclusion of the song Hamul stands before 
Abimelech. 

King 

Thou, Hamul, art thy country's savior; great 
Art thou among all men! From grievous plight 
Thou hast courageously delivered us. 
Our never-dying gratitude is thine; 
Our love, our children's love, their children's love 
Is pledged to thee for all the years to come. 
Thy King will honor thee, — claim thy reward, 
And it is thine! 

Hamul 

No recompense or meed 
In land or goods can place within my ranks 
Once more the valiant loyal men who fell 
About me in this ill-starred enterprise. 
A sweet escape were death for those who fought, 
Who starved, despaired, and struggled on this march. 
With thoughts of hearth-stones, little children's smiles, 
The arms of lovely women safe at home. 
Pursuing us with haunting memories. 
Reward would cheapen what can have no price. 
The glory tarnish which we know is ours. 
And more, mayhap: persuade us to forget 
That what we do as soldiers of the King, 
Is for the King, the people and the land! 

[56] 



ACKISH 

Thy tongue is worthy as thy feats in arms ! 

King 
We thank thee, Hamul, for thy deeds and speech. 

Aaron 

Who bringeth sacrifice to Dagon shall 
Not want; henceforth he shall be favored well. 
The god shall not forget thy service or 
Thy valiant deeds. 

ASHKELON 

In grateful Ashkelon, 
Thou shalt find friends and glory all thy days. 

Gaza 

And Gaza likewise homage gladly pays 
To thy unequaled valor and thy might. 

ASHOD 

Thy praise in distant Ashod shall resound. 

Gath 
The fairest daughters of the Philistines 
Shall dance before thee while they chant the song 
Of thy great deeds when thou shalt come to Gath. 

Ekron 

The promise of the oracle by thee 

Hath been fulfilled, and Ekron 's gratitude 

Is ever thine. 

Hamul 
Thy praise is undeserved 
By me, but due it is to those staunch men 

[57] 



Who braved all hardships blindly at my word, 
Those men who cheerfully went forth with me. 
Light-hearted, singing, hopes and purpose high, 
And who were destined never to return. 
The flower of Philistia enrolled 
With me upon this fateful march. Alas! 
This handful of that splendid band alone 
Returns ! 

King 

All honor to our noble dead. 
They perished that our people might survive. 
They died that we might live once more with joy; 
They sleep eternal sleep that we may wake 
Anew to days of plenty. 

Aaron 

While we mourn, 
Great Dagon hungers. Tribute to our dead 
'Tis fitting that we duly pay; but let 
Us not delay. Impatiently the god 
Awaits, his breath grows hot, and for his feast 
He clamors. 

Malchalm 
Let us speed the sacrifice! 

King 
Produce the captive. Where is Rapha's'son? 
Good Hamul, where is great Dagon 's victim? 
[The soldiers step aside, disclosing Saph. 

Hamul 

This is the prisoner, the noble youth. 

Old Rapha's scion, Saph by name, whom I 

Have brought here for a living sacrifice. 

[58] 



ACKISH 

A likely youth of truly royal mien! 
Methinks I have beheld his face before. 

Hamul 

The inauspicious day our march began, 

Misfortune spread her subtle nets for us, 

And took her daily toll. By avalanche 

And tempest were we crushed; our way we lost. 

And groped our steps with hesitating feet; 

We found ourselves in black and dreadful gulfs; 

A noisome gorge wherein wild beasts did rage; 

A chasm opened at our feet; sheer cliffs 

Confronted us and barred our path. But these 

Were trifling hardships to the perils fresh 

That we encountered when with weary steps 

'Cross weary miles, we reached the giant land. 

The foe had learned of our approach and were 

Forewarned. They had receded to the heights 

Of their great mountain fastnesses. Their young 

They hid, — they knew it was their young we sought! 

We tracked them days on days without reward. 

A solitary sentinel on guard. 

Occasionally we came upon, but him 

We quickly slew, and left him where he lay 

To rot. Among the mountains were we lost; 

Strange people hindered us and blocked our way; 

Our hands were bleeding and our feet were sore; 

Ferocious beasts attacked us, when at night. 

Exhausted from our weary task, we slept. 

At last one day in a deep mountain glen. 

We came upon the aged King, himself, — 

Old Rapha, stately monarch of them all. 

Grim, tall and hoary. Round about him stood 

[59] 



In serried ranks the stalwart patriarchs 

Of his great race. They towered mightily 

Beside him, shoulder touching shoulder. We 

Who gathered 'bout their feet, the flaming sun 

Could not discern so close they stood. They saw 

Our gleaming swords flash in our hands, — the sight 

Sent through their ranks a dreadful shudder deep, 

They swayed in terror, yet their silence held. 

We fell upon them and our swords drank deep. 

We thrust and cut; they died like stupid sheep, 

And headlong tumbled to the ground. At last 

Before the mighty King I stood. His size 

Overwhelmed me, made me pause. Strain though I would 

My eyes, his lofty head I could not see. 

His girth a hundred cubits would not span ! 

So huge, so vast a man I never saw 

Before; I trembled at his giant bulk. 

As in his silent majesty he reared 

Himself indifferent to my sword. My heart 

Misgave me at his stern magnificence. 

His royal scorn of me. Beside him stood 

His son, the very stripling we did need. 

The youth whose sacrifice we sought. And so 

I struck, and at old Kapha's knees I hacked. 

And struck and struck again until my strength 

Began to ebb. The bite of my stout sword 

Made small impression on his carcass tough. 

Disdainfully, with royal scorn, he spurned 

My weak attack. I prayed to Dagon, begged 

His aid, besought him strengthen my good arm. 

The great god heard. Old Kapha trembled, blood 

Was flowing fast, the wound grew deeper; then. 

He tottered; suddenly the old king fell. 

[60] 



A fearful rending sound, a hideous roar 

The mountains shook, as at my feet he crashed; 

My keen-edged sword then quickly pierced his heart. 

And while the combat raged the boy stood fast. 

And sought to aid his father where he might. 

No thought occurred to him to make escape, 

Desert his parent in his final hour. 

When all was o'er, disdainfully he still 

Regarded us, and when he saw our plan. 

With royal gesture but with bitter hate. 

He held his hands out to receive our chains. 

ACKISH 

Oh, cruel sight! Oh, vision barbarous! 
The son to see his father murdered thus 
Before his eyes! And were it mine — the King — 
My gentle father? No! The very thought's 
Too hideous ! 

King 

Most warmly I command 
Thy courage, Hamul. Philistines alone 
Such burning valor know, and proud I am, 
I am a Philistine. Long may thy arm 
Be equal to thy sword. 

Aaron 

Let D agon's priests 
Behold the sacrifice. Let Kapha's son 
Stand forth that all may see. 

[Saph steps forward. 

A goodly youth, 
A fitting offering. His tender limbs. 
His soft and pliant flesh will make a feast 
Full worthy of our god. 

[6i] 



ACKISH 

'Tis butchery! 
'Tis wanton murder thus to sacri^ce 
A youth so proud, so well-endowed, to such 
Ignoble death! 

King 

O son of Rapha, thou 
Art called to be a sacrifice unto 
The greatest of all gods; thy noble blood 
Shall flow to expiate the thousand crimes 
Of all our enemies. Hast aught to say? 



THE SONG OF SAPH 

I 

[Recitative. 

I belong to a kingly race, benign and ancient, 
Kings who were old when the world was young! 

Not easily have I come to this hour of sorrow and death. 
Behold I am Saph! And Rapha was my father! 

[Singing, 

Mine is the race of the Kings, when the universe rose 

New from confusion and tempest, e'er man had released 
Hatred and tribehood, and war with its evils and woes, 

Snaring and death for the bird, and the trap for the 
beast. 
Then were we Kings undisputed, and peaceful our reign. 

Then might we shelter the forest's small terrified things; 
Justice we meted to all, without quarrel or gain. 

Hear ye the song that is sung by the Kings of the Kings! 

[62] 



II 

[Recitative, 

Here ye see me in chains — who have never known chains! 

Philistines, ye have yet to learn 
That in harming me or one of my fathers. 

Ye harm only yourselves! 
[Singing. 
Ours was the ruling of brotherhood, over us shone 

Skies that were silent and blue. From the mountains 
above 
Ran the swift waters to mirror my forefather's throne, 

And all the law of our Kingdom was service and love. 
Then came thy people, with ruin and murder, and death. 

Smiting our ranks; for no cause ye decreed we must die! 
Gone was the silence, the peace of the summer's warm 
breath. 

All of us fallen or captive, as captive am I ! 

Ill 

[Recitative. 

You think only of the gold that Dagon brings you. 

In our land there is no need of gold. 
You cannot buy our souls. 

Although you would sell your own for gold! 
[Singing. 

Philistines, come to the land where the beauty of old, 

Lingers among the green shafts, where the spirit supreme, 
Brotherly, loving has wiped out the hunger for gold, 

Made strife and hatred fade out like the figures of dream. 
Cast off your gods, foolish image of serpent and calf! 

Ye are the gods whom the power and kingdom await. 
This is the song of the captive, the song of Prince Saph, 

Fearless yet helpless, delivered to you and his fate! 

[63] 



IV 

[Recitative. 
Ye have no thought of befriending us. 

Yet when have we not been your friends? 
When have ye not found peace among us. 

And buried care beneath our calm and our beauty? 
[Singing. 

Ah, be ye friends! We have gifts to put into your hands; 

Come to our fellowship, open your lives to our love. 
Ye shall protect us, and we in our powerful bands. 
From the rich plains to the heights of the mountains 
above, 
We shall befriend you, encompass you 'round with de- 
lights. 
Make for your leisure a haven where joy never ends, 
Through the sweet, deep summer noons, and the still 
summer nights. 
Ye shall be rich who claim me and my mates as your 
friends. 

ACKISH 

My dream ! My dream ! A woodland glade I see 

And lofty trees, beloved by bird and beast, — 

And in my dream methought a sapling danced. 

And plead with me for friendship and for help! 

This youth, the dryad doth resemble strange. 

The face, the lineaments, the royal mien ! 

It is the same! . . . O dream, thy portent still 

Is darkly veiled but I have faith ere long 

Thy meaning clear shall be revealed! . . . He came 

To me in slumber and I pledged mine aid; 

Now stands he here before me and in need! 

My promise summons me with stern command. 

[64] 



Aaron 
A crafty plea our clever captive makes. 
He hopes by cunning words and promises 
To gain our sympathies, and so avert 
His doom. 'Twill not avail; the sacrifice 
I claim. As soon as Dagon is appeased. 
His hunger stayed, abundance will return. 
The god with benefits will shower us. 
The shining gold will heap our coffers high 
Again, and plenty shall abound for all! 

Malchalm 
The sacrifice! On with the sacrifice! 
Let Dagon's priests the altar swift prepare, 
Ignite the fires! 

ACKISH 

Hold, impetuous priest! 
Let's pause, consider this while there is time. 
To sacrifice to Dagon, this brave youth 
Is murder upon murder! What's his crime? 
What wrong, offense hath he committed? What 
Transgressions are his fathers guilty of. 
That he should suffer punishment? I pray 
Thee, father, spare this noble youth, let him 
Return unto his kind! The blessings that 
The High Priest promises will emanate 
From Dagon will as surely come to us 
From deed so just. 'Tis sacrilege to kill 
This princely boy. No good can come from such 
An evil thing! 

Aaron 

Insidious words our Prince 
Doth speak, but heed him not. The wisdom that 

[65] 



He gathered on his journey ings hath touched 
His brain, hath turned his blood to thinnest milk! 

[Amon, Boaz and Si sera now push their way 
through the crowd of listening Lords and cour- 
tiers, 

Amon {kneeling) 
O King, — a boon I crave! 

King 

What now? Who calls? 

Amon 

Thy slave, the humble Amon. Speech I beg! 
Though thou destroy me, yet I do implore 
Thine ear. Oh harken to the earnest plea 
Of Boaz, Sisera and Amon. 

BoAz 

Sire, 
Petition of grave import offer we. 

Sisera 
We importune thee and thy mercy beg. 

King 
What suit so pressing it must needs delay 
The sacrifice to Dagon? Time and place 
There are when thy request more fittingly 
Could be presented. 

Boaz 
'Twill not wait, O King. 
Indulgence we implore; our prayer is urgent. 

King 
What is the nature of thy cause? Be quick. 

[66] 



Amon 

We humbly beg thy mercy for this youth; 

Restrain the hand of these his murderers, — 

Unbind him, let him go his way. His words 

Reveal him as a god, and 'tis not meet 

Or just for mortals to decree his death. 

Atrocities enough against his race 

Have we committed. Spare him, gracious King. 

Aaron 

What folly have we here? What shameful talk? 
These are but slaves, their words the words of slaves! 
Our soldiers die, brave Hamul fighteth hard, 
Endureth hardships great to bring to us 
A captive for our needs; are these for naught? 
Was such a toll and such endeavor vain ? 
And are we now to set the prisoner free? 
Preposterous words! Enough, — away with them! 

King 

ril smite thee slave, for thy presumption bold. 

ACKISH 

Nay, father, wait! Set curb upon thy hand. 
Shall not these slaves presume to say what's in 
Their hearts ? I beg thee, as thou lovest me, 
To listen to their plea ere judging them 
Iniquitous too quickly. 

King 

Ever dear 
Art thou to me, my son; thy words have weight, 
And I would please thee if I could. Say on. 
Thou slave; what is the boon that may not wait? 

[67] 



ACKISH 

Fear not. With heart intrepid speak thy mind. 
I'll sponsor thee. What is it thou wouldst ask? 

Amon 

My name is Amon, — the symbol writer I, 

And on the scrolls of papyrus I make 

The records of thy numerous exploits, 

Thy deeds and doings. Mercy, gracious King, 

But I have grown aweary of my task, 

And of the ugly history I make. 

The endless chronicle of war and death. 

Of pillage, cruelty and bitterness. 

The princely Saph did sing of peace and love, 

And I believe that peace and love would bring 

Us blessings, bring us happiness, and days 

Of plenty and of ease would speedily 

Return, if we espoused this different creed. 

Instead of sacrificing this young man. 

Let's set him free and send him home again. 

With friendship pledged, and let those wh5 have grown 

Dissatisfied amongst us, go with him. 

And build their lives, and choose their work anew. 

Aaron 

miscreant and dog! Perfidious wretch ! 
Dispatch this mouthing traitor with a blow. 

ACKISH 

No! Spare him, father; hold thy peace,"High Priest. 
Let's have the others' words; I would hear all. 

SiSERA 

1 lift my voice with Amon to bespeak 

[68] 



The mercy of the King for this brave youth. 
I, too, am but a slave, — thy humble slave, 
'Tis I v/ho shape the trumpet and the drum 
That call our men to war. I make the songs. 
Compose the hymns the Priests in Dagon's praise, 
Sing in the temple. But I fain would seek 
Another land where it might be my lot 
To fashion music of a sweeter sort. 
To sing of love, of simple brotherhood. 
For those great aisles of solitude and peace. 
For that dear beauty and that harmony 
Of which this youth has told us in his song. 
My heart doth long, my pulses leap. 

ACKISH 

And thou? 
What addest thou? Our patience, I implore; 
Let's hear them out ere we our judgment form. 

BOAZ 

Full well I know the peril I incur 

In saying what I am about to say. 

Yet must I speak though death be my reward. 

I am a sculptor, — Boaz is my name, 

A slave of thine since birth, and born of slaves. 

I fashion things of clay, and in the rock 

I hew thy image and the runes that tell 

The story of thy conquests. From the earth 

I mould such shapes as most resemble man. 

And more I do: I mould the gods. 'Tis I 

Who hath shaped Ashtheroth and Dagon both, 

Who made the Calf of Gold. These images 

Ye worship are but hardened clay and stuffed 

With straw. With one swift hammer's blow I can 

[69] 



Demolish them and build them new again. 

Before these creatures of my hands, thy Priests 

Abase themselves, thy people v/orship them, 

Beseeching favor, supplicating aid! 

Now ye would sacrifice this noble youth 

Upon the altars of these things of clay 

That have no minds, no eyes, no hearts, no blood. 

That are but plastered mud, packed full of culm. 

The sweepings of an ox's stall. O King, 

I can make gods of more imposing mien 

Than Dagon, larger gods if such ye want, 

But here before you stands a god in truth. 

Or if no god, the symbol of a god. 

Ye would do well to fall upon your knees 

And worship him, for he is inspiration, 

And kindleth aspiration, attributes 

Of gods alone. Oh, free his hands from chains. 

And let him seek his peaceful mountain home, 

In safety and security once again. 

Aaron 

impious blasphemer! Scoundrel! Rogue! 

1 claim this wretch and his reviling mates 
For yonder altar. Let the flaming breath 
Of Dagon be thy answer to their plea. 

ASHKELON 

Aye, let them burn. Mine ears have never heard 
Such sacrilege. We'll give them to the god 
They dare to slander. 

Gath 

Let them die the death! 

[70] 



Ekron 

They have blasphemed! So let their punishment 
Be quick in order that our sacred god 
May know our detestation of their crime. 

ASHKELON 

Let all such slaves as these be sacrificed, 
The puerile men who fashion script and rune, 
The base-born minstrels, scribes and chiselers! 
These singing, mouthing weaklings in our ranks 
Contribute nothing to the common weal. 
Destroy them, burn them, let their craven blood 
Pour forth on Dagon's altar. 

ACKISH 

Hold ye all! 
My father, bid them halt! Attend my words! 
What would ye do? These slaves who dare to make 
An intercession for old Kapha's son. 
Them ye would sacrifice as well as him? 
My Lords, give ear, and harken to me. Priest, — 
What say you Dagon craves and needs must have? 
I hear ye: ''Noble blood — a prince within 
Whose veins patrician wine doth flow!" He stands 
Before you: I, myself. Behold in me 
Your sacrifice. Take me, and let me be 
Your oflFering, but bid this captive go. 
And stay your hand from punishing these slaves 
Who spoke for peace and love and brotherhood. 
Am I not royal ? For a sacrifice 
Could ye give more to Dagon? Let us haste, 
My throat is bare, my blood leaps in my veins, 
To spill on Dagon 's altar, my flesh longs 
To feel the flame consuming, and the hot 
Embrace of Dagon 's arms. 

[71] 



King 

My son — my boy! 
Art thou demented? What insanity 
Is this? My son for Dagon's sacrifice! 
Thou knowest not the meaning of thy words. 

ACKISH 

My father, Hsten, I demand thine ear. 
Dost thou recall my mother? And how fair. 
How good she was, how comely? I had seen 
But nine short summers when she went away, 
Yet I recall her as 'twere yesterday! 
How well she loved thee all her happy years. 
Yet me she loved the more, — ah, how she loved ! 
Dost thou remember on the night she died 
Her parting words to thee, the boon she craved? 
And that upon that fatal night of nights. 
When her faint breath grew fainter as she held 
Our hands each in a hand of hers, she begged 
A promise of thee, and thou madest a pact 
With her and sealed it with a parting kiss? 
This was thy promise, father, to thy wife: 
That when thy son, — myself, — should be a man, 
I should be free to make thee one demand. 
And make the same, her name upon my lips! 
And that whatever its nature, or thy wish, 
That promise and that oath should guide thy will^ 
And give me what I asked! Most upright King, 
Dost thou the pledge remember? 

King 

Aye — my son, 
I do acknowledge such an oath I made. 

[72] 



ACKISH 

Then claim I its fulfillment here, before 
Thy court; I do adjure thee, keep thy faith. 
This captive set thou free, strike off his chains. 
And bid him go with promise to destroy 
No more his race, and let these slaves of thine. 
Who seek a country new of comradeship. 
And love, where once again they may be free. 
Let them accomp'ny him, and who so else 
Would go with them to seek this land of peace 
And harmony, shall follow them if so 
They list, and be permitted to depart. 
To serve a consecrated band to guard 
These noble giants in dead Kapha's land. 
Protect them 'gainst disaster and attack, 
And reap the recompense the princely Saph 
Hath promised them would surely be their own. 
Whilst I on Dagon's altar shall be laid. 
Rejoicing that a life as poor as mine 
May buy them their felicity. 

King 

No — no! 
My son, unsay those words. It cannot be! 
I cannot grant thy suit! Thou may est demand 
My kingdom or my life, — my very all, — 
But ask me not to send thee to thy death ! 
My son, I plead with thee, make not such claim. 
Consider yet again what thou wilt ask. 

ACKISH 

Not so; I hold thee to thy royal oath; 

As King fulfill thy vow, — make good thy pledge! 

[73] 



King 
I connot! No, — a thousand noes! 

ACKISH 

O mother. 
Thine aid, where e're thou art, sustain me now! 
Help thou thine ancient partner keep the faith 
He made with thee, the solemn pact of death! 

MOTHER'S SONG 

Mother {off stage) 

Child of my heart! 

Body I made! 
I hear thy dear voice, 

Claiming my aid! 

O King of my life. 
Breath of my breath, 

Keep thou the promise 
Sealed with my death! 

My sweetheart of old. 
My husband indeed. 

Swiftly the prayer 

Of our firstborn concede. 

Have faith, O my heart! 

As I have in you; 
Believe that the best 

Will follow the true. 

O King, live forever! 

My voice thou hast heard. 
As me thou still lovest. 

So keep now thy word! 

[74] 



King 

My Queen! Thy gentle voice I hear again, 
Across the barren reach of empty years! 
My girhsh Queen! My white and lucent flower! 
What wouldst thou of this desolated house 
Which thou left dark, forlorn and tenantless ? 

ACKISH 

My Mother sweet! Thy loving spirit rests 
Like pinions of some tender, brooding dove, 
A feather-touch, against my cheek! I feel 
Thy lips upon my brow! O Mother, thanks! 

King 
My son — my son ! 

ACKISH 

Have courage, father dear; 
I must do this and thou must keep thine oath. 
High Priest, my Lords, the sacrifice awaits; 
Prepare me for great Dagon's sacred feast. 

Aaron 

O King, we wait upon thy word. Thy son. 
Or Saph, the captive, must be sacrificed. 
[aside. 

Either to famished D agon's jaws will prove, 
A toothsome morsel. Even now, I see 
The crackling flames lick redly 'round their limbs, 
And smell the incense of their roasting flesh! 

ASHKELON 

An offering to Dagon must we have. 

The Prince or giant youth, it matters not. 

As long as sacrifice we speedy make. 

[75] 



ACKISH 

Thine oath, my father! Come, what dost decide? 
The Priest spoke true: we wait upon thy word. 

King 

Accursed am I ! Go then and have thy wish! 
Thy mother took my heart and thou hast robbed 
Me of my soul! Take all and have my life! 

ACKISH 

Those chains strike off! Let noble Saph depart. 

And all ye others who would go with him. 

Begone, and take my benediction. Hold 

It sacredly your duty to preserve 

His noble race, and find ye peace and love 

Among his strong and gentle brotherhood. 

Young Prince, farewell! Thou hast my ardent love; — 

A benison goes with thee. Straight return 

To thine own peopl,, live to Rapha's age, 

A monarch strong and stately and benign; 

And from that land to which I turn my eyes 

Beyond the fires that even now are hot. 

Perchance my weary soul shall visit thee. 

High Priest, — thy servant! Speed the rites! I sniff 

The smoke of Dagon's fires! I need no chains; 

Let me go free to meet the furnace glow 

Of Dagon 's kiss ! My love shall after death 

Return to comfort thee, O Father dear! 

Farewell, Prince Saph; farewell, a long farewell! 

[T'be chains have been removed from Saph's wrists, 
and he now lifts his arms heavenward in joyous 
freedom. At the conclusion of the foregoing speachy 
AcKisH, clasps Saph's hand in affectionate fare- 
well.^ and turns toward Aaron, who, with his at- 

[76] 



tendant Priests, comes forward to claim the new 
victim. Sa^^, followed by Amon, Sisera and Boaz, 
and many other Philistines^ begins slowly to mount 
the hill. 'The King overwhelmed with grief ^ and with 
bowed head., leans heavily upon the supporting arm 
of one of his attendants. Ackish advances toward 
the temple from the portals of which streams a hide^ 
ous^ red glare. As he starts to ascend the steps, an 
explosion occurs within, and the red light becomes 
more intense, and greatly increases in volume, 

Aaron 
What now! What hath occured? . . . Stand all ye back! 
Disaster travels swift in yon red gleams ! 
The breath of hell blows hotly in my face! 

Malchalm 

The temple blazeth! Dagon is aflame! 
His altar now in bloody flames is wrapped! 
What now, High Priest? 

Aaron 

The fire's in my breast. 
And it consumeth me! Oh agony 
And torment! Dagon, — mercy! Spare thy Priest! 
Oh, mortal pain ! I die! It is my death! 
[He dies. 

Malchalm 

The Priest, — the Holy Priest of Dagon falls! 
He fainteth! . . . Lords, he's dead! 

King 

And look — and look ' 

[77] 



The Golden Calf hath crumbled! Woe to us! 

[Golden Calf falls in pieces. 
It is the end! 

ACKISH 

Not so, it is instead 
The great beginning of a better day! 
Lift up your hearts, my people! The new age 
Dawns gloriously upon us. Let us meet 
The breaking morn with joy, for Dagon's dead, 
The Calf of Gold hath crumbled! — We go on! 
There lies our way; our course is toward the east! 
The glow hath spread; the heavens light our path. 
On, follow me. We seek the land where love 
And comradeship and peace abide; where care 
And strife and envy enter not. Our gods, — 
Our old false gods of gluttony and hate, — 
Are dead forever, and the giant race 
We shall befriend, and they shall shelter us. 
And in our championship of them, shall we 
Attain felicity and perfect peace! 
Beloved Saph, lead on! To thee and thine 
We pledge our shields, our swords, our trust, our love! 

[Saph, half-way up the bill, now halts , and spreads 
wide his arms. I'he illumination begins and gradu- 
ally increases, approaching its height during the 
Final Chorus. 

THE TRIUMPH OF SAPH 

Saph 
I. 
Sing I the song of rejoicing, the triumph of Saph! 
Back to the forest returning, — the wars are at end! 

[78] 



Peace and prosperity circle forever my path, 

I shall go singing forever, the world for my friend. 

Bind up the wounds that are bleeding, recover the lyres, 
Love shall prevail from the mountain tops down to the 



sea 



Crushed are the gods and the temples, and cold are the 
fires, 
I who was bound and imprisoned, — once more I am free! 

II. 

Now shall earth laugh with the harvest come smiling to 
birth. 
Now shall the aisles of the forest re-echo and ring 
With the sweet laughter of fauns, and the small of the 
earth 
Shall be protected and sheltered, shall dance and shall 
sing! 
Glory and triumph forever shall wait on my throne, 
Mercy and brotherhood live in my glorious reign; 
We who were slaughtered and fearful, and torn from our 
own. 
Thus shall we sing, — -turning back to our forests again! 



THE END 



[79] 



THE MUSIC 

In composing the music for "The Rout of the Phihs- 
tines," I endeavored to translate into the musical idiom the 
author's conception of the story. In my effort to accom- 
plish this I have used certain themes indicative of the prin- 
cipal characters and their influence upon the trend of 
events. I do not wish to give a detailed account of the 
appearance and re-appearance of these themes, but prefer 
to let their presence at various stages throughout the 
course of the work be self-explanatory. If the auditor is 
enabled to grasp the significance of the occurrence and 
development of the musical ideas, my purpose will have 
been accomplished. 

The entire musical work is based upon four main themes: 
First — The Theme of Dagon, the god of the Philistines: 



Just as the actions of the Philistines are inspired by their 
belief in the god Dagon, so the various ideas used to char- 
acterize those actions are derived from or influenced by 
this main theme. For example, in the opening scene where 
Ackish, the young prince of Philistia, is discovered asleep 
in a woodland glade, "shrouded in the mystery of dark 
night," the initial motive sung by the double basses is one 
metamorphosis of the Dagon theme: 



^ 



i ' Hi 'i i ' ^M 



1801 



Another instance, as an expression of their religious 
fanaticism: 



Ini.niifi.rii /nft'Mm /mm 




again, as a martial fanfare; 




as a manifestation of overwhelming sorrow: 




[8i] 



Second — The theme of Saph, which is intended to repre- 
sent the nobility and grandeur of his race: 




k 



\i> 







This, also, appears in many different guises, alone and in 
combination. 

'Third — The theme of Saph's Love for Humanity and 
Belief in Brotherhood, which, in accordance with the 
author's symbolical conception of the character of Saph is 
always given in combination with the 

Fourth theme, that of the forest: 




The work is scored for piccolo, three flutes, two oboes, 
English horn, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, 
three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, ^yq, tympani, 
xilophone, bells, drums and cymbals, tam-tam, tambourine, 
triangle, celesta, harp, and strings. 

Nino Marcelli 

[82] 



LB '23 



'l^A 



Sii'ir"* 

015 973 




